Still fresh from her short stint in jail, Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis may yet again find herself behind bars.
On September 14, U.S. District Judge David Bunning ended Davis’ jail sentence on the condition that she wouldn’t interfere with her deputy clerks as they issue marriage licenses to all eligible applicants, including same-sex couples.
But it seems that, as soon as she returned to clerical duties in Rowan County, Davis had other things in mind and immediately began interfering with her deputy clerks’ tasks.
In a court motion filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, it was stated that Davis meddled with the marriage licenses being issued by deputy clerk Brian Mason.
The document said that Davis “confiscated all the original forms, and provided a changed form” that didn’t mention Rowan County. The new form she issued mentioned neither her name nor any references to a “deputy clerk.” The document also said that the new forms listed Mason as a “notary public” and not a deputy clerk. Davis also changed the forms to state that the marriage licenses were issued “pursuant to Federal Court Order.”
Kim Davis is back on the job; now she’s altering marriage licenses, opponents say http://t.co/nmIM96a4i6 pic.twitter.com/MHXQXfq0vN
— Mashable (@mashable) September 20, 2015
Same-sex couples who were issued these altered marriage licenses, through ACLU, asked Judge David Bunning to intervene, citing the altered documents may be rendered invalid under Kentucky State law. The couples, however, only asked the judge to fine Davis if she continues to interfere with the issuance of licenses.
It is speculated that U.S. District Judge David Bunning may send Davis back to jail for blatantly disregarding his order. According to Davis’ attorney Mat Staver, his client did not, in any way, interfere with the issuance of marriage licenses.
“She has made a good faith effort to comply with the court’s order and has not prevented the issuance of marriage licenses by deputy clerks. While these licenses do not have her name on them, the Governor said last Monday that they were valid.”
Staver continued that the ACLU’s grievances do not really concern the marriage licenses. The group, he said, instead wants his client’s “scalp” on “the wall as a trophy.”
TODD STARNES: ACLU wants Kim Davis’ ‘scalp to hang on the wall’ http://t.co/xdxWKoW6q2 pic.twitter.com/jQ6vr0R4So — Fox News (@FoxNews) September 22, 2015
In an exclusive interview with ABC News , the Kentucky clerk said that she’s just a normal, good person touched by the grace of God.
Davis said the marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples are not valid in God’s eyes. When asked if she thinks the licenses issued by her deputy clerks are valid, she said, “I have given no authority to write a marriage license. They didn’t have my authorization. They didn’t have my permission.”
Kim Davis also told ABC News that she’s prepared to return to jail.
[Images by Ty Wright, Getty Images]